Monitor Problem

I recently installed a Digimate flat screen monitor on my 3-boot (W98 - WinXP - and FC2) set up. The 2 Windows systems work OK but when I try to boot FC2 I get an 'Out of range' message on the screen and although the computer appears to be booting up OK the screen never changes.
I dont't know how to attack this problem as without the monitor I can't see what is going on.
Any ideas please?

First try pressing the three key combo of Ctrl+Alt+F1, log on as root and type; init 3

Follow the instructions below starting after the root log on portion.


Or boot the system into runlevel 3 and fix the display configuration;

When the grub splash screen is displayed press any key.

Select the Linux boot choice and press the 'e' key.

Select the kernel line and press the 'e' key.

At the end of the line add a space followed by the number (3) three.

When done press the 'Enter' key followed by the 'b' key

When the system is done booting log on as root and do something like;

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf (creates a backup)
system-config-display --reconfig

Select the monitor or the Generic version that matches the monitors native resloution.

Test by typing in; startx

If happy, then close (exit) the GUI session and type; init 5
If not then try again using the system-config-display command.

Press the three key combo of Ctrl+Alt+F1 and logout as root, next press the three key combo of Ctrl+Alt+F7 to get back to the GUI log on screen.

I got as far as system-config-display --reconfig and nothing happened.
I don't understand what you mean by:
"Select the monitor or the Generic version that matches the monitors native resloution"
Could you explain that for me please?

Originally Posted by Stevecook I got as far as system-config-display --reconfig and nothing happened.

Nothing happened???? You should have seen a GUI configuration screen, but then again maybe not. And I'm sorry the line to make a copy of your orginal xorg.conf file should have read;

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup

What files do you have in /etc/X11 location, hopefully you still have a good version of the xorg.conf file to post(if available).

ls -al /etc/X11/xorg*

If not post your video card information and some specs about your monitor.

I don't understand what you mean by: "Select the monitor or the Generic version that matches the monitors native resloution" Could you explain that for me please?

You have a new monitor correct???, select this monitor (the make and model number), if this is not available select a generic monitor type that comes closest to the stated native resolution (1024x768 for example) of your new monitor.

I ran the system-config-display --reconfig again and I got this message:
File "/usr/share/system-config-display/xconf.py", line 412, in?
hardware_state.merge_into(xconfig)
NameError: name 'hardware_state' is not defined

The graphics are onboard Radeon 7000/Radeon VE and the monitor is Digimate L-1718 currently running at 1024 x 768.

OK, do you have an /etc/X11/xorg.conf file that you can work with and maybe post???

According to; http://www.digimate.co.uk/product_ne...lcd/L-1718.htm

This looks like a nice monitor (it can do 1280x1024) which means that if you have a valid /etc/X11/xorg.conf file you might be able to edit the file to match the native resolution of this monitor, example section below;

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

If you have the mc rpm (a midnight commander workalike) installed this makes life easier. If not then if you have a working Internet connection (in Linux) then you should be able to install it by;

rpm -Uvh http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pu...7.fc2.i386.rpm

After installation (the above command) you can run it by typing; mc

Use the arrow keys, Tab key and on screen menu to navigate and edit the xorg.conf file.

I have an xorg.conf file that looks similar to the extract you posted although I can't see it all as it's too big for the screen.
I have no way of getting it off to post it as it won't scroll up or down.

You can copy it to a floppy, or usbstick;

Mounting examples; mount /dev/fd0 or mount /dev/sda1

To copy the file; cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /path/to/the/mounted/location/xorg.conf

Or to view use less as a pipe; cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf | less

You really need to learn how to use the CLI when you get this fixed.

Question how are you posting here, is the system dualboot??? If yes then;
http://uranus.it.swin.edu.au/~jn/linux/explore2fs.htm

And if all else fails (a working printer configuration required);

lpr /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Downloaded the explore prog - it's brilliant.
Copy of xorg.conf:


# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
Load "dri"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "CTX5370"
DisplaySize 330 250
HorizSync 30.0 - 72.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 130.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "radeon"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "ATI Radeon 7000"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection

OK I have an idea, lets just try a get you a GUI screen to use......

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/Xll/xorg.conf_current (make a backup first)

rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf (answer yes to the question)

system-config-display --set-resolution=800x600 --set-depth=24 --set-videoram=0

Now with a working GUI interface (hopefully) we can edit the xorg.conf files and make one good one.

The first section you want to change is the monitor section(from the xorg.conf-current file hopefully);

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "CTX5370"
DisplaySize 330 250
HorizSync 30.0 - 72.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 130.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Change it to something like;

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor0"
	VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
	ModelName    "LCD Panel 1280x1024"
	HorizSync    31.5 - 90.0
	VertRefresh  60.0 - 60.0
	Option	    "dpms"
EndSection

And edit the screen section to be like;

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Videocard0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth     24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     16
		Modes    "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport   0 0
		Depth     24
		Modes    "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Save your changes and try the new /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

Great work Lenard - I'm working on Linux now.
I've edited the xorg.conf_current file as you said - do I now rename it as xorg.conf and replace the other one?

Well make a copy first (no reason to repeat all of this

cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_working

Then yes (sort of), rename xorg.conf_current and overwrite xorg.conf;

cp /etc/xorg.conf_current /etc/X11/xorg.conf (answer yes to the question)

You might want to check and see how the working (the new) xorg.conf and your edited xorg.conf_current file compare first (the monitor section) the HorizSync and VertRefresh values should be fairly close.

Then you can quickly test the new xorg.conf file;

Exit out of the GUI session
Press the three key combo of Ctrl+Alt+F1
Type in; init 3
Wait a few seconds then maybe press the 'Enter' key to get the prompt
Type in; init 5

Thanks for your help Lenard, I have to close now.
I will finish off tomorrow and post here whatever the result.
Thanks again - there's nothing quite like Linux for keeping you on your toes!!!!

Did the copying and rebooted and the screen is better now (higher resolution) than it was on the previous monitor.
Thanks again Lenard - your help was really appreciated.
Just got to try to install my new printer/scanner now!!!